Haptic transducer and footplate coupled to the same

Abstract

A haptic transducer is provided, comprising a motor including a yoke, an inner cavity formed by the yoke, and a magnet assembly disposed within the inner cavity; a diaphragm disposed above the magnet assembly; a suspension extending concentrically around the diaphragm and having an inner edge attached to the diaphragm and an outer edge attached to the yoke; a cylindrical coil coupled to the diaphragm and suspended within the inner cavity around the magnet assembly; a first hole extending through the motor; and a second hole axially aligned with the first hole and extending through the diaphragm, a fastener extending through the first hole into the second hole. A footplate system is also provided, comprising a footplate configured for placement in a piece of footwear; a moving motor transducer configured to transfer haptic sensations to the footplate; and a top fastener configured to secure the haptic transducer to the footplate.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A moving motor transducer, comprising:
 a motor including a yoke, an inner cavity formed by the yoke, and a magnet assembly disposed within the inner cavity; 
 a diaphragm disposed above the magnet assembly; 
 a suspension extending concentrically around the diaphragm and having an inner edge attached to the diaphragm and an outer edge attached to the yoke; 
 a cylindrical coil coupled to the diaphragm and suspended within the inner cavity around the magnet assembly; 
 a first hole extending through the motor; 
 a second hole axially aligned with the first hole and extending through the diaphragm; 
 a mating element disposed in the second hole; 
 a first fastener configured to be secured by the mating element to the second hole; and 
 a second fastener configured to be secured by the mating element to the second hole, the second fastener extending into the second hole from a top surface of the diaphragm. 
 
     
     
       2. The moving motor transducer of  claim 1 , further comprising a bushing element configured to line an interior wall of the first hole. 
     
     
       3. The moving motor transducer of  claim 2 , wherein the bushing element is further configured to extend outside the first hole and be coupled to the magnet assembly of the motor. 
     
     
       4. The moving motor transducer of  claim 2 , wherein the bushing element is further configured to extend outside the first hole and be coupled to the yoke of the motor. 
     
     
       5. The moving motor transducer of  claim 2 , wherein the first hole is configured to provide a first lateral clearance between the bushing element and a fastener coupled to the first hole. 
     
     
       6. The moving motor transducer of  claim 5 , the first lateral clearance is less than a second lateral clearance provided between the magnet assembly and the coil. 
     
     
       7. The moving motor transducer of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener extends through the first hole towards the second hole, and is configured so as to be coupled to the motor and the diaphragm. 
     
     
       8. The moving motor transducer of  claim 1 , wherein the mating element includes a threaded wall configured for attachment to a threaded surface of the first fastener. 
     
     
       9. The moving motor transducer of  claim 1 , wherein the first hole and the second hole are aligned with a central axis of the motor. 
     
     
       10. A haptic transducer system, comprising:
 a motor including a yoke, an inner cavity formed by the yoke, and a magnet assembly disposed within the inner cavity; 
 a diaphragm disposed above the magnet assembly; 
 a suspension extending concentrically around the diaphragm and having an inner edge attached to the diaphragm and an outer edge attached to the yoke; 
 a cylindrical coil coupled to the diaphragm and suspended within the inner cavity around the magnet assembly; 
 a first hole extending through the motor; 
 a second hole axially aligned with the first hole and extending through the diaphragm; 
 a first fastener extending through the first hole into the second hole; 
 a mating element disposed in the second hole and configured to secure the first fastener to the second hole; and 
 a second fastener extending into the second hole from a top surface of the diaphragm, the mating element being further configured to secure the second fastener to the second hole. 
 
     
     
       11. The haptic transducer system of  claim 10 , further comprising a bushing element disposed within the first hole and configured to surround the first fastener. 
     
     
       12. The haptic transducer system of  claim 11 , wherein a first clearance between the bushing element and the first fastener is less than a second clearance between the magnet assembly and the coil. 
     
     
       13. The haptic transducer system of  claim 10 , wherein the first fastener comprises a head portion disposed outside the first hole adjacent the yoke. 
     
     
       14. The haptic transducer system of  claim 10 , wherein the mating element includes a threaded wall configured for attachment to a threaded surface of the first fastener. 
     
     
       15. The haptic transducer system of  claim 10 , wherein the second fastener is configured to secure the diaphragm to a footplate configured for placement in a piece of footwear. 
     
     
       16. The haptic transducer system of  claim 10 , wherein a head portion of the second fastener is coupled to the footplate, and a threaded portion of the second fastener is coupled to the mating element. 
     
     
       17. A footplate system, comprising:
 a footplate configured for placement in a piece of footwear; 
 a moving motor transducer configured to transfer haptic sensations to the footplate; and 
 a top fastener configured to secure the moving motor transducer to the footplate, wherein the moving motor transducer comprises:
 a motor including a yoke, an inner cavity formed by the yoke, and a magnet assembly disposed within the inner cavity; 
 a diaphragm disposed above the magnet assembly; 
 a suspension extending concentrically around the diaphragm and having an inner edge attached to the diaphragm and an outer edge attached to the yoke; 
 a cylindrical coil coupled to the diaphragm and suspended within the inner cavity around the magnet assembly; 
 a first hole extending through the motor; 
 a second hole axially aligned with the first hole and extending through the diaphragm; 
 a mating element disposed in the second hole; 
 a bottom fastener configured to be secured by the mating element to the second hole; and 
 a top fastener configured to be secured by the mating element to the second hole, the top fastener extending into the second hole from a top surface of the diaphragm. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The footplate system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 the bottom fastener configured to be inserted through a bottom surface of the moving motor transducer for coupling to theft motor and the diaphragm, wherein the top fastener couples the diaphragm to the footplate.